Heparin-binding protein as a predictor of mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus and community-acquired pneumonia in intensive care unit:a propensity score matched study

BACKGROUND:Patients with diabetes mellitus(DM)are vulnerable to community-acquired pneumonia(CAP),which have a high mortality rate.We aimed to investigate the value of heparin-binding protein(HBP)as a prognostic marker of mortality in patients with DM and CAP.METHODS:This retrospective study included CAP patients who were tested for HBP at intensive care unit(ICU)admission from January 2019 to April 2020.Patients were allocated to the DM or non-DM group and paired with propensity score matching.Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes up to 90 days were evaluated.The primary outcome was the 10-day mortality.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,Kaplan-Meier analysis,and Cox regression were used for statistical analysis.RESULTS:Among 152 enrolled patients,60 pairs were successfully matched.There was no significant difference in 10-day mortality,while more patients in the DM group died within 28 d(P=0.024)and 90 d(P=0.008).In the DM group,HBP levels at ICU admission were higher in 10-day non-survivors than in 10-day survivors(median 182.21[IQR:55.43-300]ng/ml vs.median 66.40[IQR:34.13-107.85]ng/mL,P=0.019),and HBP levels could predict the 10-day mortality with an area under the ROC curve of 0.747.The cut-off value,sensitivity,and specificity were 160.6 ng/mL,66.7%,and 90.2%,respectively.Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that HBP was an independent prognostic factor for 10-day(HR 7.196,95%CI:1.596-32.455,P=0.01),28-day(HR 4.381,95%CI:1.449-13.245,P=0.009),and 90-day mortality(HR 4.581,95%CI:1.637-12.819,P=0.004)in patients with DM.CONCLUSION:Plasma HBP at ICU admission was associated with the 10-day,28-day,and 90-day mortality,and might be a prognostic factor in patients with DM and CAP.

The Application of the Nonsplitting Perfectly Matched Layer in Numerical Modeling of Wave Propagation in Poroelastic Media

The nonsplitting perfectly matched layer （NPML） absorbing boundary condition （ABC） was first provided by Wang and Tang （2003） for the finite-difference simulation of elastic wave propagation in solids. In this paper, the method is developed to extend the NPML to simulating elastic wave propagation in poroelastic media. Biot＇s equations are discretized and approximated to a staggered-grid by applying a fourth-order accurate central difference in space and a second-order accurate central difference in time. A cylindrical twolayer seismic model and a borehole model are chosen to validate the effectiveness of the NPML. The results show that the numerical solutions agree well with the solutions of the discrete wavenumber （DW） method.

A study of perfectly matched layers for joint multicomponent reverse-time migration

Reverse-time migration in finite space requires effective boundary processing technology to eliminate the artificial truncation boundary effect in the migration result.On the basis of the elastic velocity-stress equations in vertical transversely isotropic media and the idea of the conventional split perfectly matched layer（PML）,the PML wave equations in reverse-time migration are derived in this paper and then the high order staggered grid discrete schemes are subsequently given.Aiming at the＂reflections＂from the boundary to the computational domain,as well as the effect of seismic event＇s abrupt changes at the two ends of the seismic array,the PML arrangement in reverse-time migration is given.The synthetic and real elastic,prestack,multi-component,reverse-time depth migration results demonstrate that this method has much better absorbing effects than other methods and the joint migration produces good imaging results.

A Novel Matched Filter Structure with Neuron MOS Devices

Based on the principle of the neuron MOS device,a novel matched filter structure which is easily realized by neuron MOS is presented and the details of circuit performance is analyzed.Compared to the conventional structure,the number of circuit elements is decreased greatly for the same function.The test chip is fabricated in 0.35μm process,and the measured result shows that the system structure is feasible and effective.

Perfectly matched layer-absorbing boundary condition for finite-element time-domain modeling of elastic wave equations

The perfectly matched layer （PML） is a highly efficient absorbing boundary condition used for the numerical modeling of seismic wave equation. The article focuses on the application of this technique to finite-element time-domain numerical modeling of elastic wave equation. However, the finite-element time-domain scheme is based on the second- order wave equation in displacement formulation. Thus, the first-order PML in velocity-stress formulation cannot be directly applied to this scheme. In this article, we derive the finite- element matrix equations of second-order PML in displacement formulation, and accomplish the implementation of PML in finite-element time-domain modeling of elastic wave equation. The PML has an approximate zero reflection coefficients for bulk and surface waves in the finite-element modeling of P-SV and SH wave propagation in the 2D homogeneous elastic media. The numerical experiments using a two-layer model with irregular topography validate the efficiency of PML in the modeling of seismic wave propagation in geological models with complex structures and heterogeneous media.

A study of damping factors in perfectly matched layers for the numerical simulation of seismic waves

When simulating seismic wave propagation in free space, it is essential to introduce absorbing boundary conditions to eliminate reflections from artificially trtmcated boundaries. In this paper, a damping factor referred to as the Gaussian dmping factor is proposed. The Gaussian damping factor is based on the idea of perfectly matched layers （PMLs）. This work presents a detailed analysis of the theoretical foundations and advantages of the Gaussian damping factor. Additionally, numerical experiments for the simulation of seismic waves are presented based on two numerical models： a homogeneous model and a multi-layer model. The results show that the proposed factor works better. The Gaussian damping factor achieves a higher Signal-to-Noise Ratio （SNR） than previously used factors when using same number of PMLs, and requires less PMLs than other methods to achieve an identical SNR.

Case-matched comparison of laparoscopy-assisted and open distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer

AIM: To compare shortand long-term outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted and open distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by comparing the outcomes of 54 patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with those of 54 patients who underwent open distal gastrectomy (ODG) between October 2004 and October 2007. The patients' demographic data (age and gender), date of surgery, extent of lymphadenectomy, and differentiation and tumor-node-metastasis stage of the tumor were examined. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative recovery, complications, pathological findings, and follow-up data were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The mean operative time was significantly longer in the LADG group than in the ODG group (259.3 ± 46.2 min vs 199.8 ± 40.85 min; P < 0.05), whereas intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications were significantly lower (160.2 ± 85.9 mL vs 257.8 ± 151.0 mL; 13.0% vs 24.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). In addition, the time to first flatus, time to initiate oral intake, and postoperative hospital stay were significantly shorter in the LADG group than in the ODG group (3.9 ± 1.4 d vs 4.4 ± 1.5 d; 4.6 ± 1.2 d vs 5.6 ± 2.1 d; and 9.5 ± 2.7 d vs 11.1 ± 4.1 d, respectively; P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the LADG group and ODG group with regard to the number of harvested lymph nodes. The median followup was 60 mo (range, 5-97 mo). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 94.3%, 90.2%, and 76.7%, respectively, in the LADG group and 89.5%, 84.7%, and 82.3%, respectively, in the ODG group. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 98.0%, 91.9%, and 81.1%, respectively, in the LADG group and 91.5%, 86.9%, and 82.1%, respectively, in the ODG group. There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the survival rate. CONCLUSION: LADG is suitable and minimally invasive for treating distal gastric cancer and can achieve similar long-term results to ODG.

Perfectly Matched Layer for an Elastic Parabolic Equation Model in Ocean Acoustics

The perfectly matched layer(PML) is an effective technique for truncating unbounded domains with minimal spurious reflections. A fluid parabolic equation(PE) model applying PML technique was previously used to analyze the sound propagation problem in a range-dependent waveguide(Lu and Zhu, 2007). However, Lu and Zhu only considered a standard fluid PE to demonstrate the capability of the PML and did not take improved one-way models into consideration. They applied a [1/1] Padé approximant to the parabolic equation. The higher-order PEs are more accurate than standard ones when a very large angle propagation is considered. As for range-dependent problems, the techniques to handle the vertical interface between adjacent regions are mainly energy conserving and single-scattering. In this paper, the PML technique is generalized to the higher order elastic PE, as is to the higher order fluid PE. The correction of energy conserving is used in range-dependent waveguides. Simulation is made in both acoustic cases and seismo-acoustic cases. Range-independent and range-dependent waveguides are both adopted to test the accuracy and efficiency of this method. The numerical results illustrate that a PML is much more effective than an artificial absorbing layer(ABL) both in acoustic and seismo-acoustic sound propagation modeling.

First-line pemetrexed-platinum doublet chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab in non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: A real-world propensity score-matched study in China

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of first-line bevacizumab(Bev)-containing pemetrexedplatinum chemotherapy in a real-world Chinese cohort with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer(NS-NSCLC).Methods: A total of 415 eligible patients with NS-NSCLC who received first-line pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy at National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between February 2010 and September 2017 were reviewed retrospectively: 309 Bev(-) and 106 Bev(+) cases. Bev was administered at 7.5 mg/kg every 3 weeks in the Bev(+) group. To reduce the risk of a selection bias, a propensity score-matching(PSM) was conducted and 105 pairs of Bev(-) and Bev(+) cases were identified.Results: The median duration of follow-up was 15.8 months. The median progression-free survival(PFS) was prolonged significantly in the Bev(+) group than in the Bev(-) group in overall(9.8 vs. 7.8 months, P=0.006) and PSM pairs(9.8 vs. 6.6 months, P<0.001). Moreover, patients receiving maintenance therapy with pemetrexed plus Bev had longer PFS than those interrupted after induction chemotherapy, or those receiving mono-maintenance with pemetrexed(12.3 vs. 4.8 vs. 8.6 months;P<0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed Bev to be one of the favorable prognostic factors for PFS, along with the predictor of maintenance therapy.Conclusions: First-line induction and maintenance therapy with Bev(7.5 mg/kg every 3 weeks) combined with pemetrexed-platinum chemotherapy was efficacious and superior to non-Bev chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced NS-NSCLC.

A Uniaxial Optimal Perfectly Matched Layer Method for Time-harmonic Scattering Problems

We develop a uniaxial optimal perfectly matched layer （opt PML） method for solving the time-harmonic scattering problems by choosing a particular absorbing function with unbounded integral in a rectangular domain. With this choice, the solution of the optimal PML problem not only converges exponentially to the solution of the original scatting problem, but also is insensitive to the thickness of the PML layer for sufficiently small parameter ε0. Numerical experiments are included to illustrate the competitive behavior of the proposed optimal method.

An 8GHz Internally Matched AlGaN/GaN HEMT Power Amplifier with RC Stability Network

8GHz 20W internally matched A1GaN/GaN HEMTs have been developed. The input and output matching net- works are realised with microstrip lines on a 0. 381mm thick alumina substrate. To improve the stability factor K of the device, a lossy RC network is used at the input of the device. The developed internally matched power amplifier module exhibits 43dBm （20W） power output with a 7.3dB linear gain,38.1% PAIE,and combined power efficiency of 70.6% at 8GHz.

Determinant of Low Birth Weight Infants: A Matched Case Control Study

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a well-known factor associated with neonatal mortality and has contributed to a range of poor health outcomes. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine factors associated with LBW infants. Methods: A matched case control study was conducted in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Data of deliveries were obtained from Total Hospital Information System and medical records. All registered deliveries from January to June 2012 were used as sample populations. There were 180 pairs of cases and controls matched on babies’ gender. Fourteen variables were analyzed: maternal age, ethnicity, gravida, parity, gestational age, maternal booking weight, height and body mass index (BMI), history of low birth weight infants, birth interval, booking hemoglobin levels, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and mode of delivery. Results: Younger mother (t = 6.947, p < 0.001), lower booking BMI (t = 3.067, p = 0.002), prematurity (t = 12.324, p < 0.001), history of LBW infants (OR = 3.0, p = 0.001), LSCS (OR = 0.06, p = 0.001) and current hypertension (OR = 3.1, p = 0.008) were found significant in bivariate analysis. Multivariable conditional logistic regression identified younger maternal age (AOR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.86 -4.51, p 13.58, p = 0.045), prematurity (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.79 -3.26, p < 0.001), and current hypertension (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.06 -19.22, p = 0.041) as significant factors associated with LBW infants. Conclusion: Younger maternal age, history of LBW infants, prematurity and hypertension have been recognized as predictors of LBW infants. The importance of pre-pregnancy screening, early antenatal booking and proper identification of high risk-mother needs to be strengthened and enforced in effort to reduce incidence of LBW infants.

A high-resolution seismic catalog for the 2021 M_(S)6.4/M_(W)6.1 Yangbi earthquake sequence, Yunnan, China: Application of AI picker and matched filter

We present a high-resolution seismic catalog for the 2021 M_(S)6.4/M_(W)6.1 Yangbi sequence.The catalog has a time range of 2021-05-01 to 2021-05-28,and contains~8,000 well located events.It captures the features of the whole foreshock sequence and the early aftershocks.We designed a detection strategy incorporating both an artificial intelligent(AI)picker and a matched filter algorithm.Here,we adopt a hybrid AI method incorporating convolutional and recurrent neural network(CNN&RNN)for event detection and phase picking respectively(i.e.CERP),a light-weight AI picker that can be trained with small volume of data.CERP is first trained with detections from a STA/LTA and Kurtosis-based method called PAL,and then construct a rather complete template set of~4,000 events.Finally,the matched filter algorithm MESS augments the initial detections and measures differential travel times with cross-correlation,which finally results in precise relocation.This process gives 9,026 detections,among which 7,943 events can be well relocated.The catalog shows as expected power-law distribution of frequency magnitude and reveals detailed pattern of seismicity evolution.The main features are:(1)the foreshock sequence images simple fault geometry with consistent strike,but also show a variable event depth along strike;(2)the mainshock ruptures the same fault of the foreshock sequence and activate conjugate faults further to the southeast;(3)complex seismicity are developed in the post-seismic period,indicating complex triggering mechanisms.Thus,our catalog provides a reliable basis for further investigations,such as b-value studies,rupture process,and triggering relations.

Perfectly matched layer implementation for ADI-FDTD in dispersive media

Alternating direction implicit finite difference time domain （ADI-FDTD） method is unconditionally stable and the maximum time step is not limited by the Courant stability condition, but rather by numerical error. Compared with the conventional FDTD method, the time step of ADI-FDTD can be enlarged arbitrarily and the CPU cost can be reduced. 2D perfectly matched layer （PML） absorbing boundary condition is proposed to truncate computation space for ADI-FDTD in dispersive media using recursive convolution（RC） method and the 2D PML formulations for dispersive media are derived. ADI-FDTD formulations for dispersive media can be obtained from the simplified PML formulations. The scattering of target in dispersive soil is simulated under sine wave and Gaussian pulse excitations and numerical results of ADI-FDTD with PML are compared with FDTD. Good agreement is observed. At the same time the CPU cost for ADI-FDTD is obviously reduced.

Borehole-GPR numerical simulation of full wave field based on convolutional perfect matched layer boundary

The absorbing boundary is the key in numerical simulation of borehole radar.Perfect match layer(PML) was chosen as the absorbing boundary in numerical simulation of GPR.But CPML(convolutional perfect match layer) approach that we have chosen has the advantage of being media independent.Beginning with the Maxwell equations in a two-dimensional structure,numerical formulas of finite-difference time-domain(FDTD) method with CPML boundary condition for transverse electric(TE) or transverse magnetic(TM) wave are presented in details.Also,there are three models for borehole-GPR simulation.By analyzing the simulation results,the features of targets in GPR are obtained,which can provide a better interpretation of real radar data.The results show that CPML is well suited for the simulation of borehole-GPR.

Short-term efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy via Huang’s three-step maneuver for advanced upper gastric cancer: Results from a propensity scorematched study

BACKGROUND Robotic surgery has been considered to be significantly better than laparoscopic surgery for complicated procedures.AIM To explore the short-term effect of robotic and laparoscopic spleen-preserving splenic hilar lymphadenectomy(SPSHL)for advanced gastric cancer(GC)by Huang’s three-step maneuver.METHODS A total of 643 patients who underwent SPSHL were recruited from April 2012 to July 2017,including 35 patients who underwent robotic SPSHL(RSPSHL)and 608 who underwent laparoscopic SPSHL(LSPSHL).One-to-four propensity score matching was used to analyze the differences in clinical data between patients who underwent robotic SPSHL and those who underwent laparoscopic SPSHL.RESULTS In all,175 patients were matched,including 35 patients who underwent RSPSHL and 140 who underwent LSPSHL.After matching,there were no significant differences detected in the baseline characteristics between the two groups.Significant differences in total operative time,estimated blood loss(EBL),splenic hilar blood loss(SHBL),splenic hilar dissection time(SHDT),and splenic trunk dissection time were evident between these groups(P<0.05).Furthermore,no significant differences were observed between the two groups in the overall noncompliance rate of lymph node(LN)dissection(62.9%vs 60%,P=0.757),number of retrieved No.10 LNs(3.1±1.4 vs 3.3±2.5,P=0.650),total number of examined LNs(37.8±13.1 vs 40.6±13.6,P=0.274),and postoperative complications(14.3%vs 17.9%,P=0.616).A stratified analysis that divided the patients receiving RSPSHL into an early group(EG)and a late group(LG)revealed that the LG experienced obvious improvements in SHDT and length of stay compared with the EG(P<0.05).Logistic regression showed that robotic surgery was a significantly protective factor against both SHBL and SHDT(P<0.05).CONCLUSION RSPSHL is safe and feasible,especially after overcoming the early learning curve,as this procedure results in a radical curative effect equivalent to that of LSPSHL.

Novel matched filtering method and its application in radar system

The method of using a narrowband filter to realize matched filtering is derived.A novel method of using spectrum sampling to realize matched filtering is presented,and the method can conquer the disadvantages that the narrowband filter cannot adopt the adaptive scheduling of phased array radars and realize matched filtering for several waveforms.A novel error extraction method is proposed,which uses a time division multipath method to realize the intermediate frequency extraction.This method can save lots of space for vehicle-born radar systems,reduce the influence of amplitude and phase distortion caused by devices,and enhance the system reliability.Simulation results show that the spectrum sampling method is applicable,and the implementation of frequency spectrum sampling is elaborated.

Controller design for stochastic nonlinear systems with matched conditions

This paper is concerned with the global boundedness problem for a class of stochastic nonlinear systems with matched conditions. The uncertainties in the systems are due to parameter variations and external stochastic disturbance. Only the matched conditions and the possible bound of the uncertainties are demanded. Based on the stochastic Lyapunov stability theory, an explicit controller is constructed in the gradient direction, which renders responses of the closed-loop systems be globally bounded in probability. When the systems degrade to linear systems, the controller becomes linear. Illustrative examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Comparison of outcomes between immediate implantbased and autologous reconstruction: 15-year, single-center experience in a propensity score-matched Chinese cohort

Objective:The number of immediate breast reconstruction(IBR)procedures has been increasing in China.This study aimed to investigate the oncological safety of IBR,and to compare the survival and surgical outcomes between implant-based and autologous reconstruction.Methods:Data from patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer who underwent immediate total breast reconstruction between 2001 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.Long-term breast cancer-specific survival(BCSS),disease-free survival(DFS),and locoregional recurrence-free survival(LRFS)were evaluated.Patient satisfaction with the breast was compared between the implantbased and autologous groups.BCSS,DFS,and LRFS were compared between groups after propensity score matching(PSM).Results:A total of 784 IBR procedures were identified,of which 584 were performed on patients with invasive breast cancer(implantbased,n=288;autologous,n=296).With a median follow-up of 71.3 months,the 10-year estimates of BCSS,DFS,and LRFS were 88.9%[95%confidence interval(CI)(85.1%–93.0%)],79.6%[95%CI(74.7%–84.8%)],and 94.0%[95%CI(90.3%–97.8%)],respectively.A total of 124 patients completed the Breast-Q questionnaire,and no statistically significant differences were noted between groups(P=0.823).After PSM with 27 variables,no statistically significant differences in BCSS,DFS,and LRFS were found between the implant-based(n=177)and autologous(n=177)groups.Further stratification according to staging,histological grade,lymph node status,and lymph-venous invasion status revealed no significant survival differences between groups.Conclusions:Both immediate implant-based and autologous reconstruction were reasonable choices with similar long-term oncological outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction among patients with invasive breast cancer in China.

Location estimation of autonomous driving robot and 3D tunnel mapping in underground mines using pattern matched LiDAR sequential images

In this study,a machine vision-based pattern matching technique was applied to estimate the location of an autonomous driving robot and perform 3D tunnel mapping in an underground mine environment.The autonomous driving robot continuously detects the wall of the tunnel in the horizontal direction using the light detection and ranging(Li DAR)sensor and performs pattern matching by recognizing the shape of the tunnel wall.The proposed method was designed to measure the heading of the robot by fusion with the inertial measurement units sensor according to the pattern matching accuracy;it is combined with the encoder sensor to estimate the location of the robot.In addition,when the robot is driving,the vertical direction of the underground mine is scanned through the vertical Li DAR sensor and stacked to create a 3D map of the underground mine.The performance of the proposed method was superior to that of previous studies;the mean absolute error achieved was 0.08 m for the X-Y axes.A root mean square error of 0.05 m^(2)was achieved by comparing the tunnel section maps that were created by the autonomous driving robot to those of manual surveying.